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CornishRattler · Feb 2, 2022

Talk about screws, the first time I encountered those semi captive ones and proceed to wind ‘em all the way out because I thought they were stuck, that was a real ah sh!t! moment

Winuser · Feb 2, 2022

jvickers said:
Interestingly, I'm having key issues with my really expensive Corsair keyboard. Sometimes it's Microsoft Outlook, but more often than not, the "z" and "y" keys on my keyboard are reversed. Really strange. I have to reboot to fix when those keys are switched. It might have something to do with the iCUE software. It's a little buggy. But without iCUE, I can't control the color of my keyboard. That's the whole reason I purchased it, so I could have my keyboard purple.

My wife's favorite color.

jimbo45 · Feb 3, 2022

jvickers said:
This is so true!

Hi there
Magnetic screwdriver often helps or if you are careful a tiny tip of butter holds the screw in place. For bigger screws wrap the screwdriver end with a bit of newspaper or equivalent --for those who don't read read newspapers - toilet paper works well too (not used !!!!!!!!) and jam the screwdriver into the screw slot. It should hold. "Old School Engineering" still works even in C21 !!!.

I changed the hideous AZERTY keyboard on a thin laptop that I'd bought in a discount store in Brussels with a UK QWERTY one, That at least wasn't too difficult - alternate keyboards are often easy to find - even used ones from discarded laptops. I've never a problem in "Canaballising" old kit.

(For non French native speakers the AZERTY layout must be the worse layout ever invented -- still that's the French for you !!).

As for screen removal it's often necessary to get any sort of sensible access to the "bits inside". CPU replacement is possible on some laptops but in general you need to be able to remove the whole MOBO so you can work on it on a bench --- do take note of all connections etc so you can assemble it again properly. You might also need to be able to use a small soldering gun as well to remove the CPU assembly -- don't forget also using a heatsink both for removing the old assembly and attaching the new one. Careful does it as printed circuit elements are extremely easily broken.

Cheers
jimbo

Hazel123 · Feb 3, 2022

jimbo45 said:
Most modern laptops are very thin and not easy to work on -- although usually the hardest bit is getting the case open without damaging it. If you can open the case then usually you are OK -- the hardest thing is probably detaching the lid / screen from the laptop which is usually required when modifying modern laptops before you can get at the "rest of the bits" inside. Even replacing a battery can be a nightmare.

These days TAKE PICTURES of any thing you do before removing / disconnecting components or if you are "Old school" engineering take plenty of notes and diagrams.

Unless you are reasonable with handling small precision tools I'd leave this sort of stuff to experienced repairers --there's usually a few around if you look at local traders etc unless you are out in the middle of nowhere.

Older laptops are more "Battleship built" variety and are much easier to disassemble.

I'd advise though these days for anybody looking for new laptops to go for minimum 512GB SSD or increasingly NVME, 16GB RAM and whatever screen size fits your purpose -- external monitors can always be attached - HDMI is pretty standard. Look also for a decent number of USB ports.

With increased and permanent more remote working the demise of laptops was grossly over exaggerated !!! even if people do a lot more on phones and tablets. Laptops are definitely not dead at all these days.

Cheers
jimbo

Great advice. The problem is the difference in price between 250gb drive and 8gb ram and 500gb drive and 16gb ram is extortionate! As I found when looking. When you can just upgrade the ssd drive a lot cheaper and get a 1tb. The problem though is actually getting the back off these thin computers - some are easier than others. I have just invested in an ifixit set of tools including torx screwdrivers for that very reason - as they make it hard to get the back off these days! Using torx screws as well as tiny posidrive ones. Heck I think we have the right to upgrade or replace a hard drive.

jvickers · Feb 3, 2022

Hazel123 said:
Using torx screws as well as tiny posidrive ones. Heck I think we have the right to upgrade or replace a hard drive.

Some vendors (hello, Apple) intentionally make it difficult to upgrade/replace parts so you have to take it to them and let them work on it.

Hazel123 · Feb 3, 2022

jimbo45 said:
Hi there
You've never tried obviously to take apart those NVME things on really thin laptops e.g those Ultrabook type of laptops.
Old ACERS etc -- no problem -- a lot of modern laptops are all but impossible to even open far less start replacing components.

I've just finished upgrading an old SONY VAIO laptop which was really easy to get at everything -- although I couldn't install USB3 on it. I replaced the DVD slot with a 1TB SSD -- so now the laptop has 16GB memory and 2 HDD's and it's fine for an emergency backup too. While internal screen is only 768 X 1366 (720p) it does have 1920 X 1080 HDMI output.

cheers
jimbo

I really liked the old Sony Vaio's! I didn't know there were many left. They had the best ergonomics and keyboards for comfortable typing. My old one had weird firmware though and would overheat unless you used the exact same size hard drive it shipped with.

Hazel123 · Feb 3, 2022

jimbo45 said:
Hi there
You've never tried obviously to take apart those NVME things on really thin laptops e.g those Ultrabook type of laptops.
Old ACERS etc -- no problem -- a lot of modern laptops are all but impossible to even open far less start replacing components.

I've just finished upgrading an old SONY VAIO laptop which was really easy to get at everything -- although I couldn't install USB3 on it. I replaced the DVD slot with a 1TB SSD -- so now the laptop has 16GB memory and 2 HDD's and it's fine for an emergency backup too. While internal screen is only 768 X 1366 (720p) it does have 1920 X 1080 HDMI output.

cheers
jimbo

Very interested to know how you replaced the dvd drive with an ssd! As in sata connections?

Hazel123 · Feb 3, 2022

jvickers said:
Some vendors (hello, Apple) intentionally make it difficult to upgrade/replace parts so you have to take it to them and let them work on it.

This was the HP Specre X360. Technically it's easy to get into. Visible screws on the back - but two of them are torx. Unfortunately even with the correct torx screwdriver, the screws are stripped and can't get them out. Think someone has had the back off before. I need to replace the charger socket as it's damaged and can't charge it! Any tips on how to remove stripped tiny torx screws?

Hazel123 · Feb 3, 2022

Wynona said:
I'm the one that would be caught changing out the drive; ain't no way I'd pay a minimum of $49.00 for them to just look inside, never mind adding the drive to it. When laptops used to come with a "door" for upgrading drives and RAM, I always did my own upgrades. So, now I just need to pull the back off and change out the drive/RAM.

Same here - if you have the right screwdrivers! I hate torx screws

jvickers · Feb 3, 2022

Hazel123 said:
This was the HP Specre X360. Technically it's easy to get into. Visible screws on the back - but two of them are torx. Unfortunately even with the correct torx screwdriver, the screws are stripped and can't get them out. Think someone has had the back off before. I need to replace the charger socket as it's damaged and can't charge it! Any tips on how to remove stripped tiny torx screws?

Yeah, that's a tough one because the screws are so small. Here's a product that supposedly will remove stripped screws without a screw extractor:

ScrewGrab® SG-94 Brown Friction Gel - 0.5 oz Bottle

Easily remove tough to loosen nuts, bolts and screws with Align-Rite ScrewGrab, even if they're warped, stripped or hard to reach.

skygeek.com

jimbo45 · Feb 3, 2022

Hazel123 said:
Very interested to know how you replaced the dvd drive with an ssd! As in sata connections?

@Hazel123

Molex power connector -- the small one - 4 pin like its "Big brother" -> SATA power connector. The other part of the DVD was already connected to SATA on MOBO. That connector fits on to the other part of the SSD connector - the bit with the larger number of pins.

Job done - Q.E.D.
Tape the SSD in place with some velcro to stop it moving when moving / using the laptop. BTW it will also boot from the SSD too.

If your laptop is really old using IDE then you are out of Luck --the VAIO had two SATA ports one for the old 2.5 inch laptop HDD which I replaced as a straight plugin swap for the old drive and the other which was attached to the DVD drive.

cheers
jimbo

Hazel123 · Feb 3, 2022

jvickers said:
Yeah, that's a tough one because the screws are so small. Here's a product that supposedly will remove stripped screws without a screw extractor:

ScrewGrab® SG-94 Brown Friction Gel - 0.5 oz Bottle

Easily remove tough to loosen nuts, bolts and screws with Align-Rite ScrewGrab, even if they're warped, stripped or hard to reach.

skygeek.com

Cheers! I'll check that out. OH suggested drilling the screws out but that would be a last resort.

The-Hive · Feb 3, 2022

jvickers said:
This is so true!

Glad it's not just me :)

jonnied12 · Feb 5, 2022

The-Hive said:
The worst part is getting the base back on when you finished, the clip-in clips don't and the screws never pop straight into the holes

I never reinstall the screws in the back of my laptops after I remove them. The clips around the edges have more than enough holding power.

Hazel123 · Feb 5, 2022

I always put the screws back in! A bit OCD like that. But not too tight .... Some of the screws these days are so tiny it's ridiculous.

jerrypc1 · Feb 5, 2022

sounds like some of my problems

Clintlgm · Feb 5, 2022

BunnyJ said:
I would never work on a laptop.. I would take it to a shop and have them do all of the work. After I made a backup.

Na I'll trust myself to do this job. most of the notebooks I have had were very easy to upgrade hard drives. And Macrium Reflect makes it that much easier.

BunnyJ · Feb 5, 2022

Clintlgm said:
Na I'll trust myself to do this job. most of the notebooks I have had were very easy to upgrade hard drives. And Macrium Reflect makes it that much easier.

That's me.. YMMV.

CornishRattler · Feb 5, 2022

Clintlgm said:
Na I'll trust myself to do this job. most of the notebooks I have had were very easy to upgrade hard drives. And Macrium Reflect makes it that much easier.

Try the new ones, you're gonna need a very steady hand and a very precise soldering iron

BunnyJ · Feb 5, 2022

CornishRattler said:
Try the new ones, you're gonna need a very steady hand and a very precise soldering iron

And I don't have a steady hand so.. I don't work with laptops.

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